DAVE THE GURU IS ON HIS BIKE
Brailsford quits British Cycling to focus on Team Sky
FOR Sir Dave Brailsford, i t had become the impossible job. With British Cycling based i n Manchester and Team Sky’s main training headquarters now in Nice, i t was l i ke asking Jose Mourinho to take on Chelsea without relinquishing control of Real Madrid.
So yesterday, after a 10-year reign that had brought eight gold medals at both the London and Beijing Olympics, Brailsford stood down as performance director of British Cycling to focus on running the Team Sky road team.
He made it clear before the recent Track World Championships that it was becoming too much — that he was being spread too thin and that both teams could suffer as a result.
For a man who sets the highest of standards, whose mantra is ‘marginal gains’ and has an acute attention to detail, a situation that meant he might be giving less than his best was unacceptable.
He hopes the British Cycling team he has put in place will continue to achieve success, not least at the Rio Games in 2016.
‘It just feels like it’s a natural transition,’ Brailsford said. ‘We’ve thought for a long time about how we can get British Cycling in the best possible shape and give the riders the best possible support going into Rio — because that’s the most important thing.
‘It’s been well documented that my time is more stretched across Team Sky and British Cycling. Team Sky have grown with the success of the Tour de France and I felt that the back-up that now exists at British Cycling — with Ian Drake as CEO, with Shane Sutton knowing all the riders — means it’s the right team to move that team on.’
For some riders, Brailsford’s exit might be as unsettling as it was for Manchester United’s players when Sir Alex Ferguson retired. Adding to their woes i s the departure of Dr Steve Peters, the acclaimed psychiatrist to whom Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Bradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton have said they owe much of their success.
Those who remain can only hope a healthy degree of continuity will ensure there is further success.
A major reshuffle sees Sutton promoted to technical director with responsibility for rider performance. Andy Harrison will continue as programmes director. Both report to Drake but a new role — head of performance support — has also been created.
Peters will step down but will remain with Brailsford at Team Sky. Before he departs, he will assist in setting up a new support system for riders.
‘ I want to t hank Sir Dave Brailsford f or hi s enormous contribution to British Cycling,’ said Drake. ‘The organisation he leaves behind is transformed from the one we both joined in 1998.
‘I’m confident we have the right management team to take us into Rio and beyond. Cycling in this country has travelled a long way but the best is yet to come.’